Apparatus and method for mixing and dispensing a dry, particulate solid with a liquid



Dec. 3, 1968 P. G. GADDIS 3,414,163

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MIXING AND DISPENSING A DRY, PARTICULATE SOLIDWITH A LIQUID Filed June 16, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet l FLUID PRIMARY SYSTEMBY%QAI%/ M ATTORNEY? 1968 P. G. GA'DDIS 63 APPARATUS AND METHOD FORMIXING AND DISPENSING A DRY, PARTICULATE SOLID WITH A LIQUID Filed June16, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 72 Z? WT l O 1 I l Y 1. a O o $6 41" @M 24 w QI ,n Fem w I I '1 I I" I w ATTORNEYS Z BY 30 Q Dec. 3, 1968 P. G. GADDIS3,414,163

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MIXING AND DISPENSING A DRY, PARTICULATE SOLIDWITH A LIQUID 4 Sheets-$heet 5 Filed June 16, 1965 INVENTOR 7 55.92?fizz/5 Z IZ m ATTORNEYS P. G. GADDIS 3,414,163 APPARATUS AND METHOD FORMIXING AND DISPENSING Dec. 3, 1968 A DRY, PARTICULATE SOLID WITH ALIQUID 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 16, 1966 WEWEQQWWW MSSWWMNQ INVENTCRUnited States Patent 3,414,163 APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MIXING ANDDISPENSING A DRY, PARTICULATE SOLID WITH A LIQUID Preston G. Gaddis,20th and Country Club Road, Bartlesville, Okla. 74003 Filed June 16,1965, Ser. No. 464,450 Claims. (CI. 222-57) This invention relates to anapparatus and method for dispensing and mixing a solid with a liquid andparticularly to an apparatus and method for accurately dispensing andhomogeneously mixing dry, particulate material with a liquid. Heretoforeis has been known to mix a solid such as a dry chemical with a liquid orsolvent to provide a liquid mixture which, in turn, was further mixedwith a liquid primary system. However, certain disadvantages areassociated with prior art methods such as inaccuracies in measuring anexact predetermined amount of dry chemical, cumbersome andtime-consuming efforts in delivering an exact predetermined amount ofthe dry material to a mixing zone as Well as efliciently and simplyproducing a homogeneous liquid mixture. Further conventional safetymeasures, often diflicult to control or monitor, were required to insureagainst discharge or loss of the dry chemical in the event of shut-downof associated equipment, interruption of liquid flow to the mixingvessel or malfunction of the primary system to which the liquid mixturewas delivered.

It is therefore a principal object of the instant invention to provide amachine and a method adapted to initially dispense and mix materials ofthe type referred to whereby a substantially homogeneous liquid mixtureis produced and to subsequently feed the mixture under controlledconditions to a liquid primary system.

It is a further object of the instant invention to provide an apparatusadapted to automatically and efliciently dispense and mix apredetermined amount of a dry, particulate material with a liquid toprovide a liquid mixture of the material.

Still a further object of the instant invention is to provide anapparatus adapted to automatically dispense said liquid mixture into aliquid primary system.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide an improved methodfor accurately dispensing and mixing a dry, particulate material in aliquid to provide a substantially homogeneous liquid mixture and todeliver said mixture to a liquid, primary system.

Still another object of the instant invention is the provision of anovel method and apparatus for preparing and dispensing an aqueousmixture of a dry chemical such as sodium tripoly phosphate used as anaid in stimulating oil recovery by water flooding techniques.

Other objects will be in part obvious, and in part pointed outhereinafter.

The invention and the novel features thereof may best be made clear fromthe following description and the ac companying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic view of an exemplary apparatus embodying theprinciples of the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary view, taken substantially along the line 22 ofFIGURE 1, showing a mechanism for dispensing predetermined amounts of adry, particulate substance;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 ofFIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an exploded perspective view of a dispensing mechanismsuitable for use in the instant inven tion;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of another embodimerit of the dispensingmechanism suitable for use with the instant invention; and

FIGURE 6 is a circuit diagram of the electrical control system of theapparatus of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, particularly FIGURE 1, the exemplaryembodiment of this invention comprises a frame or platform 10 whichsupports a mixing vessel 12 into which is introduced a liquid andpredetermined amounts of a dry, particulate material. The vessel 12 is,preferably, rectangular in shape having a closed bottom 14, an open top16, front and rear walls 18, and side walls 20.

Mounted longitudinally over the open top 16 is dispensing mechanism 22which is fixedly attached and supported by front and rear brackets 24.The brackets 24 are secured to the vessel 12 by plate 26 longitudinallydisposed above the open top 16 of the vessel and secured thereto in anyconvenient manner such as by bolts 28. The plate 26 extends from therearward edge 30 of the vessels open top and extends forwardly adjacentthe frontward edge 32 and spacedly removed therefrom to provide anaperture 34 thus exposing the contents of the vessel 12 to theatmosphere. The plate 26 is provided with a longitudinally extendingaperture 36 for communication between the dispensing mechanism 22 andthe interior of the mixing vessel 12.

The dispensing mechanism 22, in one embodiment, comprises a cylinder 38having a longitudinally extending aperture 40 for introducing the dry,particulate material therein. The cylinder 38 is closed at both ends bycircular plates 42 extending radially outwardly from the cylinder. Thecylinder 38 is journalled between spacedly removed vertical plates 44and 46 on shaft 48 provided with bearings 50 and 52. The bearings 50 and52 are supported by brackets 54 and 56 fixedly attached to side plates44 and 46, respectively, which, in turn, are attached to the plate 26 bybrackets 58 and 60 by any conventional means such as by welding.

Symmetrically and longitudinally disposed about the cylinder 38 andspaced therefrom are front and rear arcuate shroud members 62 and 64provided adjacent their outer ends with a radially extending flangemember 66. The shroud members are held in place by removably fasteningthe flange members to the vertical plates 44 and 46 in a convenientmanner.

Adjacent the upper portion of the cylinder at its outer ends are a pairof downwardly extending end shroud members 68 removably attached to thevertically depending legs 70 of the downwardly inclined front and rearbaflle plates 72 of the hopper 74.

The hopper 74 is provided with an open bottom 76 which is incommunication with the aperture 40 of the cylinder 38 through the frontand rear baflle plates 72. A dry, particulate material is convenientlystored in the hopper 74. The hopper 74 can be provided with a remov abletop closure member 78.

Operatively connected to the shaft 48 of the dispensing mechanism 22 isactuating means 80, preferably a reversible electric motor, theactuation of which can be controlled by electrical control system 82.Also controlled by the electrical control system 82 is liquid levelsensing means 84 which controls the operation of pump means 86, theinlet end 88 of which is in communication with a source of liquid (notshown) which liquid is to be employed for mixing the dry, particulatematerial in vessel 12. The outlet end 90 of pump means 86 is in fluidcommunication with inlet 92 of filter means 94 through conduit 96.Filter means 94 serves to remove substantially any extraneous materialfrom the liquid, thus assuring an essentially pure, homogeneous liquidmixture since extraneous materials in the liquid, unless removed, oftendisadvantageously react with the dry, particulate material to seriouslyinterfere with the results desired. The outlet end 98 of filter means 94is in fluid communication with solenoid valve 100, through conduit 102.The solenoid valve 100, in turn, is in operative communi cation withliquid flow sensing means comprising flow valve 104, which iselectrically controlled by system 82. Conventional liquid flow sensingmeans are disclosed, for instance, in U.S. Patents 1,952,397; 2,638,582;2,768,369; 3,095,902; 3,091,758; 3,057,977; 2,966,133; 2,772,409;2,769,121 and 2,677,023. The outlet 106 of flow valve 104 is in fluidcommunication with the inlet of conduit 108 leading to the interior ofvessel 12. The outlet of conduit 108 is, preferably, fitted with anozzle 110 for effecting a mixing action in the liquid pumped into thevessel, thus assuring a substantially homogeneous liquid mixture of thedry, particulate material.

In fluid communication with the vessel 12 is an outlet 112 adjacent thebottom thereof but below the low liquid level sensing device providedtherein. Outlet 112 is in fluid communication with the intake end 116 ofpump means 114 through conduit 118. The discharge end 120 of pump means114 is in fluid communication with a fluid primary system throughproportioning conduits 122 and 124.

An alternative dispensing mechanism useful in the instant invention isshown in FIGURE and comprises a cylinder 126 provided with a pluralityof apertures 128 in staggered relationship with each other about theperiphery thereof. The position of the apertures can be predetermined sothat on rotation of the dispensing mechanism the contents thereof willbe sequentially introduced into the vessel 12 at predetermined timeintervals. Between immediately adjacent apertures 128, there is provideda circular spacer element 130 fixedly and centrally attached to theshaft 48, the periphery of each spacer element 130 is in sealingengagement with the inside wall of the cylinder 126.

The electrical control system of the dispensing and mixing device ofthis invention is designed to properly coordinate the various operationsof the device and maintain continuous operation. The system, shown inFIG- URE 6, will now be described in detail.

The control system is powered conveniently by a source of 110 voltalternating current supplied through a main switch (not shown) locateddesirably at the main control station of the device. The switches andcontacts in the circuit diagram illustrated are in their respectivepositions when the water in the vessel 12 just reaches its highestpredetermined level. Thus contact C closes and the current flows throughconductors 132, 134, 136, 140, relay R and conductors 142 and 144. Onenergization of relay R contacts C C and C close and current flowsthrough conductors 132, 134, 136, 146, C 148, R 142 and 144, shuntingout the flow of current through contact C Contact C is a floatingcontact although other conventional contacting systems can be used, andas the outlet pumps begin to discharge liquid from the tank the floatingliquid level sensing device will tend to move away thus breaking theelectrical circuit. To compensate for this, the present circuitarrangement includes a holding circuit through contact C Simultaneouslycurrent flows through conductors 132, 134, 150, 152, 154, closed contactC and conductor 156 to actuate pump means 114, thus discharging liquidfrom the vessel through proportioning conduits 122 and 124.

At the same time the cylinder 38 is in the unloading position, i.e.aperture 40 is 180 removed from the open bottom 76 of the hopper 74.Simultaneous with the flow of current to actuate the pump means 114,current flows through conductors 132, 134, 150, 152 and 158 to activatemotor 80, the circuit being completed by the flow of current throughconductor 160-, time delay latch switch L contact C and conductors 156and 144.

Time delay latch switch L is positioned in its primary position, asshown in full line in FIGURE 6, for a predetermined period of time,sutficient to permit rotation of the cylinder 38 through 180 from itsunloading to loading position. At the end of this time latch switch L isflipped to its secondary position, shown in dotted line, thus openingthe circuit and de-energizing motor 80. The cylinder is then in itsloading position to receive dry, particulate material from the hopper 74through its open bottom 76.

When the water level in the tank is depressed to its lower level,contact C closes. To insure that the current will flow throughconductors 132 and 162, contact C and conductor 164, relay R andconductors 142 and 144, the resistance of relay R must be greater thanthe resistance of relay R With the flow of current through relay Rcontacts C and C are closed. Current then flows through conductors 132,162, 166, closed contact C resistance B, relay R and conductors 142 and144, shunting out the flow of current through contact C This latterholding circuit insures the continued actuation of pump means 86 sincethe floating contact C will tend to open with the rising water level,thus shunting the flow of current through contact C It should be noted,however, that the closing of contact C should be slightly delayed topermit opening of contact C thus preventing the current from flowingthrough the latter contact.

Simultaneous with the flow of current established through contact C andrelay R current flows through conductors 132, 134, 150, closed contact Cand conductor 168 to energize pump means 86, thus delivering the liquidto the vessel 12 via the filter means 94. From filter means 94 theliquid flows through valve operated by a solenoid which is in serieswith the pump means 86. The circuit is completed by the flow of currentthrough conductors 142 and 144.

Also simultaneous with the flow of current through closed contact 0; toenergize pump means 86, current flows through conductors 132, 134, 150,152, and 158 to energize motor 80, the circuit being completed bycurrent flow through time delay latch switch L (positioned in accordancewith the dotted line of FIGURE 6), through conductor 160, electric flowswitch 104 which closes on energization of pump means 86, and conductors142 and 144. The time delay latch switch L is positioned in itssecondary position as shown in dotted line in FIGURE 6 for apredetermined period of time, sufficient to permit rotation of thecylinder 38 through from its loading to unloading position. At the endof this time latch switch L is flipped to its primary position, shown infull line, thus opening the circuit and deenergizing motor 80. Thecylinder is then in its unloading position ready to be rotated in asecond cycle.

When the water level again reaches its highest predetermined levelcontact C closes and the cycle is repeated as above. It will be observedthat because resistance B has been placed in the holding circuit for thefilling portion of the first cycle and because the sum of the resistanceof B and relay R are greater than the resistance of relay R current willflow through closed contact C and relay R The cessation of current flowthrough relay R de-energizes the relay thus opening contacts C C and Cstopping the flow of liquid into the vessel 12. At the same timeelectric flow switch 104 is opened.

As a safety feature to prevent discharge of a liquid mixture from vessel12 to a malfunctioning primary system there can be provided in thecontrol system a relay which is connected to the pump means 114 todiscontinue feeding the liquid mixture to the primary system viaconduits .122 and 124. The control system can also be provided with acounter connected to the dispensing means to record the number ofrevolutions made by the cylinder 38 during a given period of time.Indicator lights can also be installed to show which part of the deviceis activated and operating.

It will be understood from the above description that the operation ofthe novel device of this invention can be automatic and continuous oradaptable for batchwise operations. The device, for example, delivers adry, particulate material to the interior of the vessel 12 only when aliquid is present therein, thus eliminating inadvertent damage to theequipment which could be occasioned by contact of the dry materialtherewith, especially when the dry, particulate material is reactivewith the material from which the vessel is fabricated. The device alsooperates only when the primary system to which the liquid mixture isdelivered, is functioning properly thus avoiding waste of the liquidmixture.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided by this invention amethod and a structure in which the various objects hereinbefore setforth, together with many practical advantages, are successfullyachieved. As various possible embodiments may be made of the mechanicaland process features of the invention, all without departing from thescope thereof it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore setforth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as i1-lustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for dispensing and mixing a dry, particulate solid with aliquid comprising a hopper for storing said dry, particulate material,said hopper having an open bottom, a rotatable hollow cylinder mountedessentially exteriorly of said hopper and in communication with saidhopper through the open bottom thereof, a mixing vessel in communicationwith said hopper through said cylinder, said cylinder provided with atleast one longitudinally extending aperture in the peripheral wallthereof to allow ingress and egress of said dry, particulate solid fromsaid hopper to said mixing vessel, a first pair of shroud membersfixedly and spacedly positioned adjacent the open bottom of said hopperand said cylinder, said first pair of shroud members extendingsubstantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said cylinder, asecond pair of shroud members fixedly and spacedly positioned adjacentthe open bottom of said hopper and said cylinder, said second pair ofshroud members extending substantially transverse to the longitudinalaxis of said cylinder, said first and second pairs of shroud membersbeing provided to retain said dry, particulate material in said cylinderwhen rotated to dispense said material in said vessel, means fordelivering said liquid to said vessel, means for discharging a mixtureof said solid and liquid from said vessel, liquid level sensing meansfor determining a predetermined low liquid level and a predeterminedhigh liquid level in said vessel, electrical means operative in responseto said low liquid level to deliver said liquid to said vessel, liquidflow sensing means positioned between said liquid delivering means andsaid vessel, means operative in response to said liquid fiow sensingmeans to rotate said cylinder from a filling position to an intermediatedispensin position to dispense said solid material through the aperturein said cylinder into said mixing vessel, and electrical means operativein responsive to said high liquid level to discontinue the delivery ofsaid liquid to said vessel, to rotate said cylinder from saidintermediate dispensing position to said filling position and todischarge a mixture of said solid and liquid from said vessel to aliquid primary system.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 including electrical means fordiscontinuing the discharge of said mixture to said liquid primarysystem when said primary system is non-operating.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 including liquid filter means in fluidcommunication between said liquid delivery means and said vessel.

4. A process for delivering a mixture of a dry, particulate solid and aliquid to a liquid primary system from a mixing zone comprising thesteps of sens-ing a low liquid level in said mixing zone, delivering aliquid to said mixing zone in response to said low liquid level sensed,

sensing the flow of said liquid to said mixing zone, dispensing apredetermined amount of dry, particulate solid to said mixing zone inresponse to said liquid flow sensed, continuing the flow of said liquidto a predetermined high liquid level while simultaneously, substantiallyhomogeneously mixing said solid and liquid, sensing said high liquidlevel in said mixing zone, discontinuing the delivery of said liquid tosaid mixing zone and discharging said mixture to said liquid primarysystem in response to said high liquid level sensed.

'5. The process according to claim 4 including filtering said liquidprior to delivery to said mixing zone.

6. Apparatus for dispensing and mixing a dry, particulate solid with aliquid comprising a hopper for storing said dry, particulate material,said hopper having an open bottom, a rotatable hollow cylinder mountedexteriorly of said hopper and in communication with said hopper throughthe open bottom thereof, a mixing vessel in communication with saidhopper through said cylinder, said cylinder being provided with aplurality of apertures, axially and angularly spaced in a spiral-likearrangement in the peripheral wall thereof and with a disk between eachsuccessive aperture to define a plurality of separate compartments insaid cylinder to allow ingress and egress of said dry, particulate solidfrom said hopper to said mixing vessel, at least one pair of shroudmembers fixedly and spacedly positioned adjacent the open bottom of saidhopper and said cylinder for retaining said dry, particulate material insaid cylinder when rotated to dispense said material in said vessel,means for delivering said liquid to said vessel, means -for discharginga mixture of said solid and liquid from said vessel, sensing means fordetermining the liquid level in said vessel and electrical meansoperative in response to said liquid level to control the delivery ofsaid liquid to said vessel, to rotate said dispensing means and tocontrol the discharge of said mixture from said vessel.

7. Apparatus for dispensing and mixing a dry, particulate solid with aliquid comprising a source of said solid, an open top mixing vessel,means for delivering said liquid into said vessel, means for discharginga mixture of said solid and liquid from said vessel, liquid flow sensingmeans positioned between said vessel and said liquid delivering means,means responsive to said liquid flow sensing means to actuate means fordispensing a predetermined amount of said solid into said vessel, saidsolid dispensing means comprising a hollow rotatable closed end cylindermounted above the open top of said mixing vessel and provided with aplurality of apertures axially and angularly spaced in spiral-likearrangement in the peripheral wall thereof and a disk midway betweeneach successive aperture to define a plurality of separate compartmentsin said cylinder to allow ingress and egress of said dry, particulatematerial from said source of solid to said mixing vessel.

8. Apparatus for dispensing and mixing a dry, particulate solid with aliquid comprising means for storing said dry, particulate material,dispensing means in communication with said storing means, a mixingvessel in communication with said storing means through said dispensingmeans, means for delivering said liquid to said vessel, means fordischarging a mixture of said solid and liquid from said vessel andcontrol means for activating (a) said dispensing means, (b) said liquiddelivering means and (c) said mixture discharge means, said controlmeans including means for sensing the flow of liquid to said mixingvessel, means operative in response to the sensed liquid flow toactivate said dispensing means, means for sensing the liquid level insaid vessel and means operative in response to the sensed liquid levelto actuate said liquid delivery means and said mixture discharge means.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said dispensing means comprises arotatable hollow cylinder provided with at least one aperture in theperipheral wall thereof to allow ingress and egress of said dry,particulate solid from said storing means to said mixing vessel.

10. Apparatus for dispensing and mixing a dry, particulate solid with aliquid comprising a hopper for storing said dry, particulate material,said hopper having an open bottom, a rotatable hollow cylinder mountedessentially exteriorly of said hopper and in communication with saidhopper through the open bottom thereof, a mixing vessel in communicationwith said hopper through said cylinder, said cylinder provided With atleast one longitudinally extending aperture in the peripheral wallthereof to allow ingress and egress of said dry, particulate solid fromsaid hopper to said mixing vessel, at least one pair of shroud membersfixedly and spacedly positioned adjacent the open bottom of said hopperand said cylinder for retaining said dry, particulate material in saidcylinder when rotated to dispense said material in said vessel, meansfor delivering said liquid to said vessel, means for discharging amixture of said solid and liquid from said vessel and control means foractuating (a) said rotatable hollow cylinder, (b) said liquid deliverymeans and (c) said mixture discharge means, said control means includingmeans for sensing the flow of liquid to said mixing vessel, meansoperative in response to the sensed liquid flow to actuate saidrotatable hollow cylinder from a loading to an unloading position,'meansfor sensing the liquid level in said vessel and means operative inresponse to the sensed liquid level to actuatesaid liquid delivery meansand said mixture discharge means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,641,316 6/1953 Brown et al.222-57 X 2,996,974 8/1961 Fry 22263 X 3,036,739 5/1962 Kamysz 222673,204,833 9/1965 Weitzner 222-363 X 3,217,942 11/1965 Humbert 222-1893,223,284 12/1965 Fann 22257 N. L. STACK. Assistant Examiner. ROBERT B.REEVES, Primary Examiner.

4. A PROCESS FOR DELIVERING A MIXTURE OF A DRY, PARTICULATE SOLID AND ALIQUID TO A LIQUID PRIMARY SYSTEM FROM A MIXING ZONE COMPRISING THESTEPS OF SENSING A LOW LIQUID LEVEL IN SAID MIXING ZONE, DELIVERING ALIQUID TO SAID MIXING ZONE IN RESPONSE TO SAID LOW LIQUID LEVEL SENSED,SENSING THE FLOW OF SAID LIQUID TO SAID MIXING ZONE, DISPENSING APREDETERMINED AMOUNT OF DRY, PARTICULATE SOLID TO SAID MIXING ZONE INRESPONSE TO SAID LIQUID FLOW SENSED, CONTINUING THE FLOW OF SAID LIQUIDTO A PREDETERMINED HIGH LIQUID LEVEL WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY, SUBSTANTIALLYHOMOGENEOUSLY MIXING SAID SOLID AND LIQUID, SENSING SAID HIGH LIQUIDLEVEL IN SAID MIXING ZONE, DISCONTINUING THE DELIVERY OF SAID LIQUID TOSAID MIXING ZONE AND DISCHARGING SAID MIXTURE TO SAID LIQUID PRIMARYSYSTEM IN RESPONSE TO SAID HIGH LIQUID LEVEL SENSED.